Fluid Texturing Device

ABSTRACT

A fluid texturing device is provided for use with a beverage brewing apparatus. In one embodiment, the fluid texturing device includes a housing having a driveshaft and a steam injection tube disposed therein. The driveshaft has a whisk at the end thereof that is configured to rotate with the driveshaft, and the steam injection tube is configured to couple to a steam source and has an outlet for ejecting steam. The housing can be configured to couple to a beverage brewing apparatus to allow a motorized driver to cause rotation of the driveshaft about a longitudinal axis thereof, and to allow steam to be injected through the steam injection tube.

FIELD

Beverage brewing apparatuses and fluid texturing devices for usetherewith is provided.

BACKGROUND

Various systems and methods for brewing a beverage, such as coffee ortea, are known. These systems typically include drip brewing systems inwhich hot water is brewed through coffee grounds and into a carafe, orFrench press systems in which coffee grounds and water are mixed in acontainer and a water permeable plunger is pressed into the containerfrom above to trap the ground coffee at the bottom of the container.Existing beverage brewing systems are typically designed to receive onlya single format of flavorant, such as loose coffee grinds, oralternatively, a prepackaged capsule or cartridge of coffee grinds.

Many coffee and espresso based drinks include a form of heated andtextured milk or milk-like substitute. A device that includes a means ofsteam injection as a heat source in conjunction with a spinning whisk toaid in the distribution of steam and air throughout milk or a milk-likesubstitute is known as a fluid texturing device. In order to achieve theproper consistency using a steam source, a user must be trained to addthe proper amount of steam and whisking to the milk. At-home orstand-alone devices for texturing fluid propose to provide a simpleroperation with similar texturing results. However, many of these devicesare insufficient at producing a properly textured product. Existingintegrated or stand-alone fluid texturing devices result in a singlemilk froth type across all settings due to their limited capacity.

SUMMARY

Beverage brewing apparatuses and fluid texturing devices for usetherewith are provided.

In one embodiment, a fluid texturing device is provided having a housingwith a driveshaft and a steam injection tube extending therethrough, anda whisk assembly removably coupled to one end of the housing. The whiskassembly can include a rotatable whisk that is configured to couple tothe driveshaft such that the driveshaft can rotate the whisk. The steaminjection tube can be configured to extend through the whisk assembly toposition an outlet steam injection extend at the end of the steaminjection tube adjacent to the whisk.

The whisk assembly can have a variety of configurations. For example, insome embodiments, the whisk assembly can include a whisk coverconfigured to be magnetically coupled to the housing. The rotatablewhisk can be disposed within and surrounded by the whisk cover. In someembodiments, the first end of the driveshaft can be configured to coupleto a motorized driver for causing rotation of the driveshaft about alongitudinal axis thereof. In other embodiments, the steam injectiontube is spaced from the driveshaft such that the outlet is spaced fromthe whisk

In another embodiment, a fluid texturing device is provided having ahousing with a driveshaft, and a steam injection tube. The housing canextend between a first end and a second end. The driveshaft can bedisposed within an inner lumen of the housing and can have a first endcoupled to a first end of the housing. The first end of the driveshaftcan be configured to couple to a motorized driver for causing rotationof the driveshaft about a longitudinal axis. The driveshaft can alsohave a second end adjacent to the second end of the housing, with awhisk is mounted thereon and configured to rotate with the driveshaft.The steam injection tube can similarly have a first end coupled to thefirst end of the housing and configured to couple to a steam source. Asecond end of the steam injection tube can be positioned adjacent to thesecond end of the housing and can have an outlet for ejecting steamtherefrom. The steam injection channel can be spaced from the driveshaftsuch that the outlet is spaced from the whisk.

The housing can have a variety of configurations. For example, in someembodiments, the first end of the housing can have at least oneconnecting feature configured to removably couple the housing to abeverage brewing apparatus.

In some embodiments, a whisk cover can be removably coupled to thesecond end of the housing. The whisk cover can include a plurality ofapertures. In certain embodiments, the whisk cover can be arrangedbetween the second end of the housing and the whisk.

The steam injection tube can also have a variety of configurations. Forexample, in some embodiments, the steam injection tube can pass throughan aperture within a whisk cover positioned around the whisk on thesecond end of the housing. In other embodiments, the outlet of the steaminjection tube can be positioned vertically above the whisk.

The housing can also include a temperature sensor positioned adjacentthe second end of the housing, and configured to output a temperaturesignal representing a temperature of a fluid surrounding the temperaturesensor. In certain embodiments, the temperature sensor can be positionedvertically above the whisk.

In another embodiment, a beverage brewing apparatus is provided thatincludes a primary housing and a removable fluid texturing device. Theprimary housing can have a mounting arm having connecting featurethereon. The removable fluid texturing device can have a hollowsecondary housing, a driveshaft with a whisk, and a steam injectiontube. The hollow secondary housing can have a mating portion configuredto removably engage with the connecting feature on the primary housing.The driveshaft can extend from the mating portion and through the hollowsecondary body. The steam injection tube can also extend from the matingportion and through the hollow secondary body, and it can have an outletconfigured for ejecting steam therefrom. In some embodiments, the steaminjection tube can be spaced apart from the driveshaft such that theoutlet is spaced from the whisk.

In some embodiments, the removable fluid texturing device can alsoinclude a temperature sensor positioned within the hollow secondaryhousing adjacent the whisk and it can be configured to output atemperature signal representing a temperature of a fluid surrounding thetemperature sensor.

The connecting feature on the primary housing and mating portion on thesecondary housing can have various configurations. In one embodiment, afirst electrical terminal can be arranged on the primary housing and canbe configured to contact a second electrical terminal positioned on themating portion of the hollow secondary housing. In other aspects, themating portion can be configured to mechanically couple the driveshaftto a motor arranged within the primary housing. It can also beconfigured to fluidly couple the steam injection tube to a fluid sourcein the primary housing for allowing steam to be delivered through thesteam injection tube.

The beverage brewing apparatus can have a variety of configurations. Forexample, in some embodiments, the beverage brewing apparatus can includea controller including a processor configured to control delivering ofsteam from a steam source to the steam injection tube, and configured tocontrol a motor in the primary housing for driving the driveshaft on thefluid texturing device to thereby rotate the whisk. The controller canalso be configured to receive a temperature signal from a temperaturesensor in the fluid texturing device. In certain aspects, when thetemperature of the fluid is within a first temperature range, thecontroller can be configured to drive the motor at a first predeterminedspeed, and when the temperature of the fluid is within a secondtemperature range greater than the first temperature range, thecontroller can be configured to drive the motor at a secondpredetermined motor speed that is less than the first predeterminedmotor speed.

In some embodiments, the first predetermined motor speed can beconfigured to create a first vortex within the fluid such that steamemitted from the outlet of the steam injection tube and air surroundinga volume of the fluid is mixed prior to integration of the steam and airwith the fluid. In other embodiments, the second predetermined motorspeed can be configured to create a vortex within the fluid such thatsteam emitted from the outlet of the steam injection, and not airsurrounding a volume of the fluid, is mixed with the fluid. In certainembodiments, the controller can be further configured to receive a userinput, and a working time over which the second speed is employed can bevaried based upon the user input.

In some embodiments, the primary housing can have a fluid reservoir, afluid outlet, and at least one heater configured to heat fluid flowingfrom the fluid reservoir to the fluid outlet.

In another embodiment, a fluid texturing assembly is provided thatincludes a container, a cover, and a fluid texturing device. Thecontainer can have an opening and it can be configured to receive afluid. The cover can have an aperture formed therein, and the cover canbe positionable across the opening of the container. The fluid texturingdevice can include a housing and a removable a whisk assembly. Thehousing can extend between a first end and a second end, and it can beslidably disposable through the aperture of the cover. The whiskassembly can be removably coupled to the housing and it can include arotatable whisk. In certain aspects, the housing can further include asteam injection tube extending there through and having an outletpositionable adjacent the whisk for ejecting steam therefrom.

The housing can have a variety of configurations. For example, in someembodiments, the housing can have a first end configured to removablycouple to a beverage brewing apparatus, and a second end configured toremovably couple to the whisk assembly. In other embodiments, theaperture can be configured to form a seal around the housing. In someembodiments, the housing can include a driveshaft extending through thehousing. The driveshaft can have a first end coupled to the first end ofthe housing and configured to couple to a motorized driver for causingrotation of the driveshaft about a longitudinal axis thereof, and asecond end adjacent to the second end of the housing and configured torotate the whisk.

In other embodiments, the controller can be configured to detectattachment of the fluid texturing device to the primary housing. Inother aspects, the primary housing can include a mounting arm movablycoupled thereto and having the connecting feature formed thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features will be more readily understood from thefollowing detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of a beveragebrewing apparatus having a fluid texturing device coupled thereto;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the beverage brewing apparatus ofFIG. 1 showing the fluid texturing device extending into a container;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the internal components of the beveragebrewing apparatus and fluid texturing device of FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of a mounting arm of the beveragebrewing apparatus of FIG. 1 in an operational position;

FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the mounting arm of FIG. 4 ;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the mounting arm of FIG. 4 ;

FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional side view of the mounting arm of FIG. 6taken along line 7A-7A in FIG. 6 ;

FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional side view of the mounting arm of FIG. 6taken along line 7B-7B in FIG. 6 ;

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of the fluid texturing device of FIG. 2detached from the beverage brewing apparatus;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the fluid texturing device of FIG. 8 ;

FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional side view of the fluid texturing device ofFIG. 9 taken along line 10A-10A in FIG. 9 ;

FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional side view of the fluid texturing device ofFIG. 9 taken along line 10B-10B in FIG. 9 ;

FIG. 11 is a bottom perspective view of the fluid texturing device ofFIG. 9 , showing a whisk body detached;

FIG. 12 is a bottom perspective view of the whisk body of FIG. 9detached from the fluid texturing device;

FIG. 12A is a top perspective view of the whisk body of FIG. 9 detachedfrom the fluid texturing device;

FIG. 12B is another embodiment of a whisk body without vanes showndetached from the fluid texturing device;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional side view of the fluid texturing device ofFIG. 9 ;

FIG. 14 is top perspective view of the mounting arm of FIG. 4 showingthe fluid texturing device of FIG. 9 about to be coupled thereto;

FIG. 15 is a top perspective view of the fluid texturing device of FIG.14 connected to the mounting arm;

FIG. 16A is a cross-sectional side view of the mounting arm and fluidtexturing device of FIG. 15 ;

FIG. 16B is a cross-sectional side view of the mounting arm and fluidtexturing device of FIG. 15 ;

FIG. 17A is a perspective view of the fluid texturing device of FIG. 14shown in a disassembled configuration and shown in combination with alid having an aperture extending there through;

FIG. 17B is a perspective view of the fluid texturing device of FIG. 17Aarranged within the lid;

FIG. 17C is a perspective view of the fluid texturing device and lid ofFIG. 17B shown in combination with a container;

FIG. 17D is a perspective view of the fluid texturing device, lid, andcontainer of FIG. 17C shown fully assembled;

FIG. 17E is a perspective view of the fluid texturing device, lid, andcontainer of FIG. 17D about to be connected to the beverage brewingsystem of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 17F is a perspective view of the fluid texturing device, lid, andcontainer of FIG. 17E connected to the beverage brewing system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 18 is a schematic view of one embodiment of a user interface of thebeverage brewing apparatus of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 19 is a graph showing an operational process of the fluid texturingdevice of FIG. 9 ;

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional side view of the fluid texturing device ofFIG. 9 shown in use creating a first vortex within a fluid;

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional side view of the fluid texturing device ofFIG. 20 shown in use creating a second vortex within the fluid;

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional side view of the fluid texturing device ofFIG. 20 showing the integration of air and steam into the fluid whilecreating the first vortex;

FIG. 23 is a chart illustrating one embodiment of a fluid texturingdevice detection process performed by the beverage brewing apparatus ofFIG. 1 ;

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view of the fluid texturing device of FIG.8 having different locations for a steam outlet.

It is noted that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. The drawingsare intended to depict only typical aspects of the subject matterdisclosed herein, and therefore should not be considered as limiting thescope of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain exemplary embodiments will now be described to provide anoverall understanding of the principles of the structure, function,manufacture, and use of the devices and methods disclosed herein. One ormore examples of these embodiments are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Those skilled in the art will understand that the devices andmethods specifically described herein and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings are non-limiting exemplary embodiments and thatthe scope of the present invention is defined solely by the claims. Thefeatures illustrated or described in connection with one exemplaryembodiment may be combined with the features of other embodiments. Suchmodifications and variations are intended to be included within thescope of the present invention.

In general, when injecting steam into milk, water is being added to adegree, which in turn is diluting the milk. If the steam pressure islow, the time required to heat the milk will be longer, leading to morewater injection. Therefore, the steam injection speed will be slowerresulting in a large bubble size, which corresponds to a poor milktexture. The result is not textured milk, but rather hot milk with someaerated foam on top, which greatly effects the taste of a milk baseddrink, as the milk does not integrate with espresso in this state.Additionally, with a low steam pressure, under heating of the milk canoccur. In the alternative, if the steam pressure is too high, the timerequired to heat the milk will be shorter. Therefore, the steaminjection speed will be faster resulting in a smaller bubble size, whichcorresponds to a desired high-quality milk texture. However, by using ahigh-pressure steam, overheating of the milk can occur, which could leadto an undesirable texture.

Accordingly, a device for texturing a fluid, such as milk, is provided.In an exemplary embodiment, the fluid texturing device solves theaforementioned issues by altering the whisk speed to create differentvortex types within a container during a texturing process. By alteringthe vortex, the integration of steam and air into a fluid within thecontainer can be varied while separately controlling the whisk speed. Ata high whisk speed, the vortex can be deep, allowing for the mixing ofair and steam prior to being integrated into the fluid. Additionally,after a time period at the high whisk speed, the whisk can rotate at alow whisk speed causing a shallow vortex within the container, whichallows only steam to be integrated into the fluid. By changing the whiskspeed between different phases, the steam injection speed can be high,while also preventing overheating of the milk. Additionally, atemperature sensor can be positioned within the body of the texturingdevice to accurately measure the temperature of the fluid within thecontainer as to not under or overheat the fluid to allow for the desiredoutcome as programmed by the user.

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate one embodiment of a beverage brewing apparatus 10operable to prepare a brewed beverage and suitable for use on a supportsurface, such as a countertop. A person skilled in the art willappreciate that the fluid texturing device disclosed herein can be usedwith any beverage brewing apparatus, and the illustrated apparatus ismerely provided as one example of an apparatus for use with a fluidtexturing device. As shown, the beverage brewing apparatus 10 generallyincludes a housing 24 having a base 26. A bottom surface 27 of the base26 can be configured to be positioned on a support surface, such as acountertop. An upper surface of the base 26 can define an area forpositioning a container configured to receive a brewed beverage outputfrom the beverage brewing apparatus 10.

The beverage brewing system can also include a reservoir 32 arranged onthe housing 24 and configured to store a desired amount of fluidtherein, such as water, for brewing a beverage including but not limitedto coffee or tea. The reservoir 32 can be removably connectable to thehousing 24 for ease of filling. The housing 24 can also include a brewchamber 34 within which a flavorant, such as coffee grinds or tealeaves, may be positioned.

A fluid delivery system 44 is disposed within the housing 24 and isconfigured to communicate fluid from the reservoir 32 to the brewchamber 34. The fluid delivery system 44 can include at least one fluidsupply line 33 or conduit extending between an outlet end of thereservoir 32 to an inlet of the brew chamber 34. The fluid deliverysystem 44 can also include a heater 48 operable to heat the watersupplied from the reservoir 32 to a desired temperature prior todelivery to the brew chamber 34. Additionally, the fluid delivery system44 can include a pumping mechanism 50 operable to provide a positivepumping action to push or draw a fluid, such as water, from thereservoir 32 through the at least one fluid supply line 33 and theheater to deliver the fluid to the brew chamber 34.

As further shown in FIG. 1 , the beverage brewing apparatus 10 caninclude a user interface 54 for receiving one or more inputs from auser. The user interface 54 is formed at a portion of the housing 24,such as at a front surface adjacent the brew chamber 34. While the userinterface 54 is shown on the front face of the housing 24, the userinterface 54 can be located anywhere on the housing and the position canvary depending on the configuration of the beverage brewing apparatus10. The user interface 54 can include one or more buttons, knobs, orother control input devices 56. Alternatively, or in addition, the userinterface 54 can include a touch screen, or it can be configured toreceive an input via from a smart device, such as a phone or tablet forexample, via an “app” or other suitable connection. The operation of theuser interface will be described in detail below.

Operation of the beverage brewing apparatus 10 can be controlled by acontroller 58 operably coupled to the components of the beverage brewingapparatus 10, and configured receive one or more input signals from theuser interface 54. The controller 58 can include one or more of amicroprocessor, microcontroller, application specific integrated circuit(ASIC), or any other form of electronic controller known in the art.

A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the beverage brewingapparatus can have a variety of other configurations and can includevarious features, and that the illustrated beverage brewing apparatus ismerely one exemplary embodiment. Other example embodiments of beveragebrewing apparatuses are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 11,246,446, which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

In addition to having the necessary components for producing a brewedbeverage, the beverage brewing apparatus 10 can also have a mounting arm90 movably coupled to the housing 24 for mounting a fluid texturingdevice 10 onto the housing. In the illustrated embodiment, the mountingarm 90 is positioned on a side of the housing, however the mounting arm90 can be positioned at various other locations.

As shown in more detail in FIGS. 4-6 , the mounting arm 90 can have agenerally elongate configuration with a first end 90 a and a second end90 b. The first end 90 a can be pivotally secured to a frame 91 at apivot joint 92. The frame 91 can be arranged within the housing 24 andit can be configured to allow the mounting arm 90 to pivot between astorage position and an operational position. In the storage position,the mounting arm 90 is pivoted to be flush and/or to abut the housing24, and in the operational position, the mounting arm 90 extends fromthe housing at a sustainably perpendicular angle to allow for acontainer to be arranged underneath a fluid texturing device 100connected to the mounting arm 90.

The second end 90 b of the mounting arm 90 can include a mating face 93that defines a connecting feature. The connecting feature can havevarious input and output ports for passing material and signals to andfrom the fluid texturing device 100. The mating face 93 is configured toface downward and be perpendicular with a support surface such that thefluid texturing device 100 extends in a vertical direction whenconnected to the mounting arm 90. The various input and output ports onthe mating face 93 of the mounting arm 90 can include a steam injectionport 94, a driveshaft port 95, and an electric terminal 80. As shown inFIG. 6 , the driveshaft port 95 can be arranged in the center of themating face 93, and the steam injection port 94 and the electricterminal 80 can be radially spaced from the driveshaft port 95.Additionally, the mating face 93 can include features which areconfigured to selectively engage the fluid texturing device 100 toretain the fluid texturing device 100 on the mounting arm 90.

The steam injection port 94 is shown in more detail in FIG. 7A andincludes a tube 94 a position within and extending through the mountingarm 90. The tube 94 a extends outward and vertically downward from themating face 93 and has an outlet 94 b at a terminal end thereof. Assteam exits the outlet 94 b, steam will enter a steam injection tube ofthe fluid texturing device 100, which will be explained in more detailbelow. The outlet 94 b can include a seal 94 c arranged on the outersurface of the outlet 94 b to help seal the outlet 94 b with the steaminjection tube of the fluid texturing device 100. In certain aspects,the seal 94 c can formed from a deformable silicon material, but othertypes of seals are considered within the scope of this disclosure.

In order to produce steam at the fluid texturing device 100, the tube 94a can be configured to couple to a steam source 60 arranged within thehousing 24, as shown in FIG. 3 . The steam source 60 can be integralwith the heater 48 or it can be a separate unit, and it can beconfigured to produce steam and transport that steam through the tube 94a to an outlet 94 b. The steam source 60 can be in communication withthe controller 58, which controls the amount and temperature of steamproduced by the steam source 60. In certain aspects, the steam generatedby the steam source 60 can be dry steam produced by heating the watercontained within the reservoir 32. A pump can be used to move the steamfrom the steam source 60 to the steam injection port 94, or the pressureof the steam itself can be sufficient to move the steam from the steamsource 62 the steam injection port 94.

As indicated above, the driveshaft port 95 is also arranged on themating face 93 and it is configured to transmit rotational motion to thefluid texturing device 100. As illustrated in FIG. 7B, the driveshaftport 95 includes a hollow body 95 a that extends outward from the matingface 93 and that has an aperture 95 b arranged therein. A drive feature95 c is arranged within the hollow body 95 a and is configured to driverotational motion of a driveshaft of the fluid texturing device 100 whenthe fluid texturing device 100 is connected to the mounting arm 90, aswill be explained in more detail below. In the illustrated embodiment,the drive feature 95 c is in the form of multiple tabs, e.g., four tabs,that abut corresponding tabs on the driveshaft of the fluid texturingdevice 100. The tabs 95 d can project vertically inward and can beoriented in a vertical direction along the internal surface of thehollow body 95 a of the driveshaft port such that a driveshaft of thefluid texturing device 100 can be removed and replaced relative to themounting arm 90 in the vertical direction, while still allowing forrotational motion to be transferred from the drive feature 95 c to thedriveshaft of the fluid texturing device 100. While four tabs are shownin the figures, more or less tabs would be sufficient and consideredwithin the scope of this disclosure. The hollow body 95 a can beconnected to the driveshaft of a motor 64 arranged in the second end 90b of the mounting arm 90 such that the motor 64 can rotate the hollowbody 95 a. The motor 64 can be connected to the controller 58, whichcontrols the rotational speed of the motor 64. In certain embodiments,the motor 64 can be a DC variable speed motor, where the controller 58controls the output speed depending on a desired fluid texture, asexplained in more detail below.

As further show in FIGS. 5-7B, an electrical terminal 80 can be arrangedon one side of the driveshaft port 95 opposite to the steam injectionport 94. The illustrated electric terminal 80 includes pogo pins 80 a,80 b, which are configured to contact corresponding electrical contactson the fluid texturing device 100, explained in more detail below. Thepogo pins 80 a, 80 b extend downward from the mating face 93 and canretract vertically into the mating face 93 when contacting correspondingelectrical contacts on the fluid texturing device 100. The pogo pins 80a, 80 b are connected to the controller 58 and may be configured to sendsignals to the controller 58 based on various operating conditions ofthe fluid texturing device 100, such as the temperature of the fluidsurrounding the fluid texturing device 100, the speed of the whisk, orthe connection status of the fluid texturing device 100. Even though theelectric terminal 80 is represented as having multiple pogo pins, anytype of electrical connector would be sufficient and considered withinthe scope of this disclosure.

As indicated above, the mounting arm 90 can also include a matingfeature configured to removably engage the fluid texturing device toretain the device on the brewing apparatus. In the illustratedembodiment, the mating feature is in the form of tabs 99 a, 99 b thatproject outward from the mating face 93 and that are configured toengage with corresponding connecting features within the fluid texturingdevice 100, which will be explained in more detail below. Theillustrated tabs 99 a, 99 b extend through slots 97 a, 97 b in themating face and are deflectable to allow the tabs 99 a, 99 b to moveradially inward and outward. Buttons 98 a, 98 b can be arranged on theexterior surface of the second end 90 b of the mounting arm 90 and canbe integral with or connected to the tabs 99 a, 99 b. The buttons 98 a,98 b can be spring biased outward such that the tabs 99 a, 99 b arelikewise biased radially outward, thus retaining the fluid texturingdevice on the brewing apparatus. During attachment of the fluidtexturing device to the mounting arm, the device can cause the tabs 99a, 99 b to deflect radially inward and once fully connected, the tabswill return to the radially outward position. Further, a force can beapplied to the buttons 98 a, 98 b to move the buttons radially inward tocause the tabs 99 a, 99 b to move radially inward, thereby releasing thefluid texturing device 100 from the mating face 93.

As stated above, the fluid texturing device 100 is configured to beremovably arranged on the mounting arm 90. An exemplary embodiment of afluid texturing device 100 is illustrated in FIGS. 8-10B. As shown, thefluid texturing device 100 generally includes a hollow elongate housing102 having steam injection tube 118 and a driveshaft 116 extendingtherethrough. The steam injection tube 118 is configured to deliversteam to a fluid, and the driveshaft 116 includes a whisk on theterminal end thereof for mixing the fluid.

The housing 102 can have a variety of configurations, but in theillustrated embodiment the hollow elongate housing has a first end 102 aand a second end 102 b. The first end 102 a can have a mating portionthat allows multiple inputs and outputs of the fluid texturing device tocommunicate with the components within the beverage brewing apparatus10, and the second end 102 b can interact with the fluid. In theillustrated embodiment, the first end 102 a is generally circular whilethe second end 102 b has an oval-shaped cross-section, and the portionof the housing 102 extending there between has an oval-shapedcross-section.

The mating portion of the housing 102 can include various features formating with the connecting features on the mounting arm of the beveragedispensing apparatus. In particular, similar to mating face 93, thehousing 102 can have a mating face 106 that includes a steam injectionport 110, a driveshaft port 112, an electric terminal 86, and matinggrooves 114 a, 114 b, each of which will be discussed in more detailbelow. The mating face 106 can also include mating grooves 114 a, 114 barranged on opposite sides of the driveshaft port 112, and configured toreceive the corresponding tabs 99 a, 99 b on the mounting arm.

The steam injection port 110 is configured to fluidly mate with thesteam injection port 94 on the mounting arm in order to transfer steamfrom the steam source 60 within the housing 24 through the steaminjection tube 118, which extends from the first end 102 a of thehousing 102 to the second end 102 b of the housing. The steam injectiontube 118 can be in the form of a circular tube having an inner lumenthat allows steam to pass from the steam injection port 110 to an outlet122 arranged within a tip 120. In certain aspects, the steam injectiontube 118 or the inner lumen thereof can be tapered from the first end102 a to the second end 102 b. The tapered configuration can aid inreducing back pressure as steam travels along the steam injection tube118. The tip 120 can be positioned adjacent the second end 102 b of thehousing 102 for ejecting steam into a fluid. In one embodiment, the tip120 can be formed from a separate component that is screwed onto thesteam injection tube 118. However, in other aspects it can be integralwith the tube 118. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that thesteam injection tube can be in the form of a lumen extending through andintegrally formed with the housing, and need not be in the form of aseparate tube extending through the housing.

The position of the steam injection tube 118 and the tip 120 can vary tocontrol the impact on fluid, as will be discussed in further detailbelow. In one embodiment, the steam injection tube 118 is spaced adistance from the driveshaft 116 to position the tip 120 and outlet 122a distance apart from the whisk. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, a distance D between the tip 120 and the driveshaft 116, is 14.46 mm.Additionally, in further aspects illustrated in FIG. 24 , the tip 120can spaced from the driveshaft 116, extending along a centerline CL, atdifferent distances in a range of about 5.00 mm to 32.00 mm. In oneaspect, a distance D1 between the tip 120 and the driveshaft 116 is 6.00mm such that the tip 120 is configured to inject steam inside an innermost portion of the whisk 140. In another aspect, a distance D2 betweenthe tip 120 and the driveshaft 116 is 14.46 mm such that tip 120 isconfigured to eject steam radially between an outer most portion of thewhisk 140 and an inner most portion of the whisk cover 143. In anotheraspect, a distance D3 between the tip 120 and the driveshaft 116 is30.00 mm such that the tip 120 is configured to eject steam radiallyoutside of an outer most portion of the whisk cover 143. Further, thetip 120 of the tube 118 can be arranged to be positioned verticallyabove the whisk 140 to better incorporate air and steam into a fluidbeing agitated by the whisk 140, as will also be explained in moredetail below.

As further shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 , the mating face 106 can also includean electrical terminal 86 arranged thereon and positioned on a side ofthe driveshaft port 112 that is opposite to the steam injection port110. Similar to the electrical terminal 80 on the mating face 93, theelectrical terminal 86 on the mating face 106 of the fluid texturingdevice 100 can include pogo pins 86 a, 86 b, which correspond to thepogo pins 80 a, 80 b. When the fluid texturing device 100 is connectedto the connecting arm 90, pogo pins 80 a, 80 b contact pogo pins 86 a,86 a such that signals from the temperature sensor 130 can be sent tothe controller 58 within the housing 24 of the beverage brewingapparatus 10. A tube 126, as shown in FIG. 10A, can extend from theelectrical terminal to the second end 102 b of the housing 102. A personskilled in the art will appreciate that the tube can be in the form of alumen integrally formed with the housing, and that it need not be aseparate component. The tube 126 can be configured to carry a wire 128there through for transferring signals from the electrical terminal 86to a temperature sensor 130 arranged adjacent to the outlet of the tube126. In certain aspects, the temperature sensor 130 can be a negativetemperature coefficient (NTC) sensor, which can detect a temperature offluid surrounding the temperature sensor 130. The temperature sensor 130can extend outward and vertically downward from the housing 102, similarto the tip 120.

As indicated above, the mating face 106 of the fluid texturing device100 can also include a driveshaft port 112 arranged centrally within thehousing 102. The driveshaft 116 can be mounted within the driveshaftport 112 such that it is configured to receive rotational motion fromthe motor 64 arranged within the mounting arm 90. The driveshaft 116 issecured within the housing by snap rings which are positioned such thatthe driveshaft 116 is prevented from moving in the vertical axis. Thedriveshaft 116 can extend through the housing 102 from the first end 102a to the second end 102 b. In certain aspects, the driveshaft 116 can beparallel to both the steam injection tube 118 and tube 126. In order toallow rotational motion to be transmitted to the driveshaft 116, thedriveshaft 116 can include one or more tabs 117 at the first end 102 a.The end portion of the driveshaft having the tabs 117 can extend intothe driveshaft port 112. When the fluid texturing device 100 is mated tothe mounting arm, the driveshaft port 95 on the mounting arm will extendinto the driveshaft port 112 on the fluid texturing device 100 asillustrated in FIGS. 16A-16B. As a result, the tabs 117 on thedriveshaft 116 can contact the tabs 95 d on the mounting arm to allowthe driveshaft 116 to be rotatably driven.

As shown in FIG. 10A-10B, the second end 102 b of the driveshaft 116 caninclude a connecting feature 121 that is arranged on the end of thedriveshaft 116. In certain aspects, as shown in FIG. 11 , the connectingfeature 121 can be in the form of a cylindrical-shaped body with ahollow cavity. An opening arranged on the bottom surface of theconnecting feature 121 allows for access to the interior of the hollowbody. The connecting feature 121 can also include tabs 121 a disposedtherein that are configured to translate rotational motion from thedriveshaft 116, as discussed further below. In certain aspects, the tabs121 a extend in the vertical direction along an inner surface of theconnecting feature 121 such that a corresponding driveshaft can beremoved and replaced within the connecting feature 121 relative to thehousing 102 in the vertical direction, while still allowing forrotational motion to be transferred from the driveshaft 116 through theconnecting feature 121.

Referring back to FIGS. 8 and 9 , in order to secure the fluid texturingdevice 100 to the mounting arm 90, the mating face 106 can furtherinclude mating grooves 114 a, 114 b that correspond to the tabs 99 a, 99b on the mounting arm 90. The mating grooves 114 a, 114 b are arrangedon opposite sides of the driveshaft port 112, and extend downward intothe housing 102. The mating grooves 114 a, 114 b can have a shape andsize that corresponds to a shape and size of the tabs 99 a, 99 b. Asillustrated in FIG. 14 , the mating grooves 114 a, 114 b can each have aflange 115 a, 115 b formed therein that is engaged by the tabs 99 a, 99b when the tabs 99 a, 99 b are inserted into the mating grooves 114 a,114 b. As stated above, in order to remove the tabs 99 a, 99 b from themating grooves 114 a, 114 b, the tabs 99 a, 99 b are displaced radiallyinward by the buttons 98 a, 98 b, dislodging the tabs 99 a, 99 b fromthe flanges 115 a, 115 b.

In order to act upon fluid surrounding the fluid texturing device 100,the fluid texturing device 100 further includes a whisk assembly 104removably coupled to the second end 102 b of the housing 102, asillustrated in FIGS. 8, 10A-10B, and 12-13 . The whisk assembly 104generally includes a whisk 140, a driveshaft 142, and a whisk cover 143.The whisk cover 143 can have a variety of configurations, but in generalit is configured to surround the whisk 140. In certain aspects, thewhisk cover 143 can have a frusto-conical shape extending radiallyoutward from the housing 102. The whisk cover 143 can include tabs 132arranged at an outer circumference thereof and extending downward fromthe whisk cover 143. The tabs 132 can act as spacers in order to createspace between the bottom of the fluid container so that the whisk 140does not contact the bottom of the fluid container. The tabs 132 canthus have a height that is greater than a height of the whisk 140. Gapscan exist between each of the tabs 132 in order to allow fluid to passbetween the tabs 132 to interact with the whisk 140. In addition to thetabs 132, the whisk cover 143 can include at least one or a plurality ofaperture(s) 150 arranged in the top surface thereof. As will beexplained in detail below, the apertures 150 can allow air to interactwith the whisk 140.

The whisk cover 143 can also include separate apertures 146, 148 whichcan be separated by vanes 149, as illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 12A. Theillustrated vanes 149 extend radially outward from a central housing 147of the whisk cover 143. However, the whisk cover can include any numberof vanes positioned at any location, or in other embodiments it can lackvanes entirely as shown in FIG. 12B. Where vanes are present, theapertures 146, 148 can be positioned to allow the tip 120 of the steaminjection tube 118 and the temperature sensor 130 to pass through thewhisk cover 143 such that the tip 120 and a temperature sensor 130 canbe arranged adjacent to the whisk 140.

FIG. 12B illustrates one embodiment of a whisk assembly 104′ which lacksany vanes. The whisk assembly 104′ is substantially similar to the whiskassembly 104. Therefore, similar components will not be described indetail. The whisk assembly 104′ generally includes a whisk 140′, adriveshaft 142′, a whisk cover 143′, aperture 146′, a central housing147′, and aperture 148′. As shown, there are no vanes extending betweenthe central housing 147′ and the whisk cover 143′, besides the portionswhere the apertures 146′, 148′ are arranged.

In order to secure the whisk assembly 104 to the housing 102, the whiskcover 143 can include attachment members 144 which mate withcorresponding attachment members 109 in the housing 102. As illustratedin FIG. 13 , in one embodiment, the attachment members can be in theform of magnetic elements. For example, the housing 102 can include oneor more magnets 109 arranged in the bottom surface 107 and the whiskcover 143 can likewise include one or more magnets 144 arranged thereinand aligned with the magnets 109 in the housing 102. The magnets 144 inthe whisk cover 143 can be disposed within a central housing 147 of thewhisk cover. The central housing 147 can also retain the driveshaft 142therein, as will be discussed further below. The magnets 144 cancircumferentially surround the driveshaft 142 to aid in aligning thedriveshaft 142 with the drive connecting feature 121 on the housing 102.In particular, when the whisk assembly 104 is magnetically engaged tothe housing 102, the tip 120 and the temperature sensor 130 will passthrough the whisk cover 143, and the driveshaft 142 will align with andextend into the connecting feature 121.

As illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13 , the driveshaft 142 is rotatablydisposed within the central housing 147 in the whisk cover 143. Abearing 145 can be disposed within the central housing 147 around thedriveshaft 142 for retaining the driveshaft 142 within the cover 143,while allowing the driveshaft 142 to rotate relative to the whisk cover143. The top end of driveshaft 142 can be similar to driveshaft 116, andcan include tabs 142 a configured to interact with the tabs 121 ondriveshaft 116, thus allowing the tabs 121 on driveshaft 116 to transfera rotational force to the tabs 142 a on the driveshaft 142. Thedriveshaft 142 can extend downward from the bearing 145, and can includea 90° bend to allow a terminal end of the driveshaft 142 to mate to thewhisk 140.

In order to mate the driveshaft 142 to the whisk 140, the terminal endof the driveshaft 142 can form a hoop 141, thus allowing the whisk 140to be mounted on the hoop. The whisk 140 can be in the form of a coiledmetal spring arranged around the hoop 141 to create a torus-like shape.In one aspect, in addition to being a coiled metal spring, designs forthe whisk can include other embodiments, including vanes, paddles, andother wired configurations such as balloon, French, ball, flat, spiral,and conical whisks. As best shown in FIG. 13 , the driveshaft 142 can beconfigured to position the whisk 140 at least partially downward of thetip 120 and the temperature sensor 130, but above the bottom surface ofthe tabs 132 so as to prevent the whisk 140 from contacting the bottomsurface of a fluid container.

In order to control operation of the beverage brewing system, a userinterface can be used to input the desired fluid texture to be produced.FIG. 18 illustrates one embodiment of a user interface 200. As shown,the illustrated user interface 200 includes a power button 202, astart-stop button 204, a fluid type interface 206, a texture typeinterface 208, and a temperature level interface 210. The user interfacecan be connected to a processor which in turn controls the steam sourceand whisk motor. In certain aspects, the fluid type interface 206 canrepresent different variants of milk and milk-like substitute fluids.Since different milk types have different properties, such a density,the type of fluid being textured should be selected for an optimal fluidtexture. The type of fluid can be altered using the controls 212arranged on the user interface 200. The fluid type texture interface 208can be used to determine the level of fluid texture that is desired. Forexample, it may be desirable to have more foam in a cappuccino whencompared to a macchiato. The type of texture desired can be alteredusing the controls 214 arranged on the user interface 200. Additionally,the desired fluid temperature can be selected by the temperature levelinterface 210, and altered by the controls 216 arranged on the userinterface 200. Using the inputs from the interfaces 206, 208, 210, theproper fluid texture can be achieved automatically by letting the systemrun a predetermined program including whisk speed and steam input over atimeframe.

In order to achieve a desired fluid texture, the fluid texturing devicecan be required to operate in different phases having differentrotations per minute (RPMs). An example of a texturing process havingdifferent phases is depicted in FIG. 19 . The graph 250 depicts a fluidtexturing process including a first phase 252 the second phase 254. Theline 256 represents the time duration of the first phase 252, and theline 258 represents the time duration of the second phase 254. It isimportant to note that the time duration of each phase can varydepending on the desired fluid texture. Line 260 represents the increasein temperature of a fluid being textured over time in the first phase252. Line 262 represents the increase in temperature of the fluid beingtextured over time in the second phase 254.

During a fluid texturing process, fluid, such as water, retained in thereservoir 32 is pumped into the steam source 60, where it is evaporatedand guided as steam under pressure through dedicated tubing 94 a to thesteam injection tube 118 and outlet 122 within the removable whisk cover143. Steam continually passes through the steam injection tube 118 andexits via the outlet 122 in the tip 120 where it is delivered into thefluid within the fluid container 40. Simultaneously, as steam isdelivered via the steam injection tube 118, the whisk 140 is driven bythe motor 64 to form a fluid vortex within the container 40. As depictedin graph 250, during a first phase 252, the whisk rotates at, e.g., 2000RPM. This high rotational speed of the whisk 140 creates a deep vortex284 within a fluid container 40, as illustrated in FIG. 20 . In certainaspects, the fluid container 40 can include a lid having an aperture(described below) which allows the housing 102 to pass into thecontainer 40, but prevents spills out of the container during atexturing process.

It should be noted that the whisk 140, when used sequentially withsteam, can vary the amount of air incorporated into the fluid byadjusting the RPM of the whisk 140. Higher RPMs result in a deepervortex 284, which allows for both steam and air to be momentarilyincorporated with one another prior to integrating with the fluidcontained in the container 40. This incorporation of air and steam isdepicted in detail in FIG. 22 , where the air 292 passes through theapertures 150 within the whisk cover 143 and combines with steamejecting from the outlet 122, prior to contacting and incorporating withthe vortex 284. Since the vortex 284 is a deep vortex, the center of thevortex 284 is lower than the top of the whisk cover 143, represented byline 288, which allows air to pass through the apertures 150.

As the first phase 252 ends, the fluid texturing process may not befully completed. The second phase 254 can be required to further texturefluid to ensure a proper result. In a second phase 254, the whisk 140may be rotated at a lower RPM when compared to the first phase 252, suchas 1000 RPM. The lower RPM of the second phase 254 results in a vortex286 which is shallower than the vortex 284. The shallow vortex 286illustrated in FIG. 20 results in air not being introduced to the steamprior to incorporating with the fluid since the vortex 286 is not deepenough to allow air to pass through the apertures 150. This allows justthe steam and whisk 140 to texture the fluid for the remaining amount oftime of the fluid texturing process. The two or more changes in RPMbetween different phases throughout the fluid texturing process resultsin a different micro foam texture. In certain aspects, the first workingoperation for all micro foam textures may start with a high RPM speed,whereby both steam and air are momentarily incorporated, prior tointegrating with the fluid contained in the container 40. Then, thesecond working operation for each micro foam texture is based on thedesired fluid texture, and may include high RPMs, low RPMs, or norotation of the whisk 140. The amount of simultaneous working time(i.e., steam and whisk rotation) is dictated by the user selection onthe user interface 200, resulting in a different level of micro foamtexture for each milk-based drink input. By having multiple phases ofheating and agitating, the fluid being textured can be heated quickly,providing small bubbles and desirable texture, while also preventing anyoverheating of the fluid, causing an undesirable result.

In one aspect, the RPMs at which the whisk 140 rotates may be controlledby a user through a user interface. Additionally, in one aspect, thetemperature which steam is output and/or a target temperature of a fluidbeing textured can be manually controlled by a user. For example, a usercan select a specific texturing process, such as a latte for oat milk.The fluid texturing device will automatically determine a targettemperature based on the selected texturing process parameters. However,a user can also have the option to alter the target temperature if theydesire a hotter or colder textured fluid, such as within a range of −5°C. the target temperature to +5° C. the target temperature.

In another embodiment, a container is provided for use with the fluidtexturing device. Due to the agitation of a fluid and the release ofsteam during a fluid texturing process, it can be beneficial to enclosethe container where the fluid texturing device is operating.Accordingly, FIGS. 17A-17E illustrate the fluid texturing device 100used in combination with a cover 290 and a container 40 to form a fluidtexturing assembly 101. While the cover can have a variety ofconfigurations, in the illustrated embodiment the cover 290 generallyincludes an aperture 292 arranged within the center of the cover 290 anda seal 294 arranged around the cover 290. The aperture 292 can be shapedto correspond with the cross-section of the housing 102 so that fluiddoes not escape between a space between the housing 102 and the cover290. The fluid texturing device 100 can be inserted into the aperture292 by removing the whisk assembly 104 from the housing and placing thesecond end 102 b of the housing into the aperture 292. The whiskassembly 104 can then be connected to the housing 102 after the housing102 is passed through the aperture 292, as shown in FIG. 17B. Eventhough the aperture 292 is shaped to correspond with the cross-sectionof the housing 102, the housing 102 can slide freely along a verticalaxis relative to the cover 290 while arranged within the aperture 292.

In one aspect, the cover 290 for the container 40 can be designed suchthat the housing 102 can be inserted into the cover 290 without removalof the whisk assembly 104. In an example embodiment, the cover 290 caninclude two separate halves/pieces which are configured to be installedon the container 40 on either side of the housing 102, such that thehousing can be inserted into the container first, and then the twopieces of the cover 290 can be inserted on the container 40 around thehousing 102. The two pieces of the cover can abut one another whenarranged on the container 40, and effectively cover the entire openingof the container 40 when arranged thereon except for the aperture whichthe housing 102 is arranged in. Alternatively, the cover 290 can includea hinge structure where two pieces of the cover 290 are attached to anouter ring of the cover and open/close to enable the installation orremoval of the housing 102 from the cover 290 without removal of thewhisk assembly 104. A two piece cover 290 would allow for a fluidtexturing device 100 where the housing 102 and the whisk assembly 104are permanently affixed to each other.

With the housing 102 arranged within the cover 290, the cover 290 can bepositioned on the container 40. The container 40 can include fluid 42placed within the container to be textured, such as milk or a milk-likefluid. The seal 294 on the cover 290 can abut the edge of the container40 to keep fluid 42 from spilling out of the container 40 during atexturing process. As illustrated in FIG. 17D, the cover 290 extendsacross the upper opening of the container 40 to enclose the container.In one embodiment, the container 40 can include a spout 44 which is notcovered by the cover 290 to allow a user to dispense fluid 42 from thecontainer 40 without removing the cover 290 from the container 40.

With the housing 102 fully advanced into the container 40, asillustrated in FIG. 17E, the fluid texturing assembly 101 can bearranged underneath the mounting arm 90 of the beverage brewingapparatus 10 such that the housing 102 is aligned with the mounting arm90. With the fluid texturing assembly 101 arranged underneath themounting arm 90, the housing 102 can be displaced upward along thevertical axis in order to connect the housing 102 with the mounting arm90, as illustrated in FIG. 17F. The container 40 can rest on a supportsurface during the connecting process and a texturing process.Alternatively, the entire container 40/housing 102 assembly may belifted by the user to connect the housing 102 to the mounting arm 90,after which, the container may be lowered to the support surface. In oneembodiment, the whisk assembly 104, including tabs 132, does not contactthe bottom surface of the container 40 during a texturing process. Inorder to remove the container 40 to access the textured liquid 42, thebuttons 98 a, 98 b can be depressed, as described above, to release thehousing 102 from the mounting arm 90. Where a spout 44 is included, auser can pour the textured liquid from the spout 44 without removing thecover 290 or the housing 102.

In certain aspects, the beverage brewing apparatus 10 runs adetermination check to ensure that the fluid texturing device 100 isproperly secured to the beverage brewing apparatus 10. FIG. 23represents a process 300 for ensuring that the fluid texturing device100 is connected and set up for a texturing process. While the beveragebrewing apparatus 10 is powered (i.e., plugged into to a 120V walloutlet), the beverage brewing apparatus 10 is in a low-power mode,represented in step 302. In the low-power mode at step 302, the buttonson the user interface are turned off, and the power button is at a 10%power level to illuminate the power button. When the power button ispressed to turn on the beverage brewing apparatus 10 at step 304, thecontroller within the beverage brewing apparatus 10 may determine if thefluid texturing device 100 is attached to the beverage brewing apparatus10. The processor may determine the connection state of the fluidtexturing device 100 by using the electrical connection between theelectrical terminals 80, 86, arranged on the mounting arm 90 and thehousing 102, respectively. If no signal is detected from the temperaturesensor 130 through the electrical terminals 80, 86, the processor mayactivate a notification at step 310, such as a blinking lightilluminating text stating “Install Whisk”. Additionally, all the otherbuttons and lights on the user interface would be deactivated. Once thefluid texturing device 100 is installed properly, the controller maythen activate the user interface at step 308, and allow a user to selecttheir texturing preferences in order to begin a texturing process.

While the above description describes the fluid texturing device 100 incombination with a beverage brewing apparatus, the fluid texturingdevice 100 can also be implemented as a stand-alone device, where thefluid texturing device can include a separate reservoir and separateheater for producing steam separately from a beverage brewing system.

Certain exemplary implementations have been described to provide anoverall understanding of the principles of the structure, function,manufacture, and use of the systems, devices, and methods disclosedherein. One or more examples of these implementations have beenillustrated in the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art willunderstand that the systems, devices, and methods specifically describedherein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limitingexemplary implementations and that the scope of the present invention isdefined solely by the claims. The features illustrated or described inconnection with one exemplary implementation may be combined with thefeatures of other implementations. Such modifications and variations areintended to be included within the scope of the present invention.Further, in the present disclosure, like-named components of theimplementations generally have similar features, and thus within aparticular implementation each feature of each like-named component isnot necessarily fully elaborated upon.

Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification andclaims, may be applied to modify any quantitative representation thatcould permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basicfunction to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a termor terms, such as “about,” “approximately,” and “substantially,” are notto be limited to the precise value specified. In at least someinstances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision ofan instrument for measuring the value. Here and throughout thespecification and claims, range limitations may be combined and/orinterchanged, such ranges are identified and include all the sub-rangescontained therein unless context or language indicates otherwise.

One skilled in the art will appreciate further features and advantagesof the invention based on the above-described implementations.Accordingly, the present application is not to be limited by what hasbeen particularly shown and described, except as indicated by theappended claims. All publications and references cited herein areexpressly incorporated by reference in their entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fluid texturing device, comprising: a housingextending in a first direction between a first end and a second end, thesecond end positioned vertically below the first end, the housing havinga driveshaft and a steam injection tube extending therethrough along thefirst direction, the steam injection tube spaced from the driveshaftalong a second direction, the second direction being perpendicular tothe first direction; and a whisk assembly removably coupled to thesecond end of the housing and including a whisk configured to mate tothe driveshaft such that the driveshaft rotates the whisk, the steaminjection tube being configured to extend through the whisk assembly toposition a steam outlet on the steam ejection tube adjacent to thewhisk.
 2. The fluid texturing device of claim 1, wherein the whiskassembly includes a whisk cover surrounding the whisk and configured tomagnetically couple to the second end of the housing.
 3. The fluidtexturing device of claim 1 wherein a first end of the driveshaftpositioned at the first end of the housing is configured to couple to amotorized driver for causing rotation of the driveshaft about alongitudinal axis thereof.
 4. The fluid texturing device of claim 1,wherein the steam injection tube is spaced from the driveshaft such thatthe steam outlet is spaced from the whisk.
 5. A fluid texturing device,comprising: a housing extending in a first direction between a first endand a second end, the second end positioned vertically below the firstend; a driveshaft disposed within an inner lumen of the housing andextending along the first direction, the driveshaft having a first endcoupled to the first end of the housing and configured to couple to amotorized driver for causing rotation of the driveshaft about alongitudinal axis thereof, and a second end adjacent to the second endof the housing and having a whisk mounted thereon and configured torotate with the driveshaft; and a steam injection tube extending throughthe housing along the first direction, the steam injection tube spacedfrom the driveshaft along a second direction, the second direction beingperpendicular to the first direction, the steam injection tube having afirst end coupled to the first end of the housing and configured tocouple to a steam source, and a second end adjacent to the second end ofthe housing and having an outlet for ejecting steam therefrom, the steaminjection tube being spaced from the driveshaft such that the outlet isspaced from the whisk.
 6. The fluid texturing device of claim 5, whereinthe first end of the housing has at least one connecting featureconfigured to removably couple the housing to a beverage brewingapparatus.
 7. The fluid texturing device of claim 5, wherein the whiskis removably coupled to the second end of the housing.
 8. The fluidtexturing device of claim 7, wherein the whisk has a whisk coverconfigured to magnetically couple to the second end of the housing. 9.The fluid texturing device of claim 5, wherein the steam injection tubepasses through an aperture within a whisk cover positioned around thewhisk on the second end of the housing.
 10. The fluid texturing deviceof claim 5, wherein the outlet of the steam injection tube is positionedvertically above the whisk.
 11. The fluid texturing device of claim 5,wherein a temperature sensor extends from the second end of the housing,and is configured to output a temperature signal representing atemperature of a fluid surrounding the temperature sensor.
 12. The fluidtexturing device of claim 11, wherein the temperature sensor ispositioned vertically above the whisk.
 13. A beverage brewing apparatus,comprising: a primary housing, the primary housing having a mounting armwith connecting feature thereon; and a removable fluid texturing devicecomprising a hollow secondary housing extending in a first directionbetween a first end and a second end, the hollow secondary housinghaving a mating portion configured to removably engage with theconnecting feature on the primary housing for removably mating the fluidtexturing device to the primary housing, a driveshaft extending from themating portion and through the hollow secondary body along the firstdirection, the driveshaft and having a whisk mounted on the second endthereof, the whisk positioned vertically below the driveshaft, and asteam injection tube extending from the mating portion and through thehollow secondary body along the first direction, the steam injectiontube having an outlet configured for ejecting steam therefrom, the steaminjection tube spaced from the driveshaft along a second direction, thesecond direction being perpendicular to the first direction.
 14. Thebeverage brewing apparatus of claim 13, wherein a temperature sensor ispositioned within the hollow secondary housing adjacent the whisk and isconfigured to output a temperature signal representing a temperature ofa fluid surrounding the temperature sensor.
 15. The beverage brewingapparatus of claim 13, wherein the steam injection tube is spaced apartfrom the driveshaft such that the outlet is spaced from the whisk. 16.The beverage brewing apparatus of claim 13, wherein a first electricalterminal on the connecting feature of the primary housing is configuredto contact a second electrical terminal on the mating portion of thehollow secondary housing.
 17. The beverage brewing apparatus of claim13, wherein the driveshaft is mechanically coupled to a motor arrangedwithin the primary housing through the mating connection between theconnecting feature and the mating portion.
 18. The beverage brewingapparatus of claim 13, wherein the primary housing includes a controllerhaving a processor configured to control delivering of steam from asteam source to the steam injection tube, and configured to control amotor in the primary housing for driving the driveshaft on the fluidtexturing device to thereby rotate the whisk.
 19. The beverage brewingapparatus of claim 18, wherein the controller is configured to receive atemperature signal from a temperature sensor disposed within the fluidtexturing device, and wherein when the temperature of the fluid iswithin a first temperature range the controller is configured to causethe motor to operate at a first predetermined speed, and when thetemperature of the fluid is within a second temperature range greaterthan the first temperature range the controller is configured to causethe motor to operate at a second predetermined motor speed that is lessthan the first predetermined motor speed.
 20. The beverage brewingapparatus of claim 19, wherein the first predetermined motor speed isconfigured to create a first vortex within the fluid such that steamemitted from the outlet of the steam injection tube and air surroundinga volume of the fluid is mixed prior to integration of the steam and airwith the fluid.
 21. The beverage brewing apparatus of claim 19, whereinthe second predetermined motor speed is configured to create a vortexwithin the fluid such that steam emitted from the outlet of the steaminjection, and not air surrounding a volume of the fluid, is mixed withthe fluid.
 22. The beverage brewing apparatus of claim 19, wherein thecontroller is configured to receive a user input, and wherein a workingtime over which the second predetermined motor speed is employed isvaried based upon the user input.
 23. The beverage brewing apparatus ofclaim 13, wherein the mounting arm is movably coupled to the primaryhousing.
 24. The beverage brewing apparatus of claim 18, wherein thecontroller is configured to detect attachment of the removable fluidtexturing device to the primary housing.
 25. The beverage brewingapparatus of claim 13, wherein the primary housing has a fluidreservoir, a fluid outlet, and at least one heater configured to heatfluid flowing from the fluid reservoir to the fluid outlet.
 26. A fluidtexturing assembly, comprising: a container having an opening andconfigured to retain a fluid therein; a cover configured to bepositioned across the opening of the container, the cover including anaperture formed therein; and a fluid texturing device having a housingextending in a first direction between a first end and a second end, thesecond end positioned vertically below the first end, the housing beingconfigured to be slidably disposed through the aperture in the cover,and the housing include a driveshaft and a steam injection tubeextending therethrough, the steam injection tube spaced from thedriveshaft along a second direction perpendicular to the firstdirection, and a whisk assembly removably coupled to the housing andincluding a rotatable whisk.
 27. The fluid texturing assembly of claim26, wherein, when the whisk assembly is coupled to the housing, thesteam injection tube is configured to extend through the whisk assemblyto position a steam outlet at an end thereof adjacent the whisk forejecting steam therefrom.
 28. The fluid texturing assembly of claim 26,wherein the housing has a first end configured to removably couple to abeverage brewing apparatus, and a second end configured to removablycouple to the whisk assembly.